My first experience with blogging, www.stopsexpredators.blogspot.com, was the anonymous blog where I posted the emails from Mark Foley to a sixteen year old House Page. That began the saga that has become famously known as Foley-gate.
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Friday, December 8, 2006

ETHICS COMMITTEE REACTION

The House Ethics Committee has indeed come to the conclusion that no rules were broken throughout the multi-year mismanagement of Mark Foley's immoral, unethical, and inappropriate behavior. They have instead opted to find the GOP Leadership "negligent" in protecting teens.

For years, the reputation of the House Ethics Committee has declined to the point that some people have begun calling the Committee irrelevant. Their findings in this investigation is just as negligent as the actions of the Republican Leaders.

The rules of the House clearly state that the House of Representatives, its Members, Officers, and staff, act "in loco parentis" for House Pages. At the moment that Congressman Rodney Alexander allowed the Louisiana page's parents to quash any action against Foley, he broke House Rules. When House officers and Leadership allowed this to stand, they all joined in failing to provide a safe environment for House Pages.

Could someone explain to me how you can find the Leadership "negligent" and then say they broke no rules? I realize that this report will have little impact on the political landscape. But, the Republicans missed an opportunity to show that they are willing to accept responsibility for a total breakdown in the system. Further, they have sent a very loud message to parents that they do not put a high priority on the safety of their children.

The only good thing about this report is that it finally ends this long, shameful saga.

6 comments:

You shouldn't be surprised that the HEC handed out slaps in the wrists, Lane. After all, when you helped reveal Mark Foley's hypocrisy/sexual proclivities, the right wing went apeshit, accusing you and others of being part of some left wing agenda financed by George Soros; In fact, dare I say, the right wing was seemingly more upset that Foley got found out...

The real outrage will come when law enforcement authorities deem his criminal activities not significant enough to warrant having to register as a sex offender.